Most clearance delays — on the way in or the way out — aren't duty disputes. They're a missing certificate someone discovered after the goods were already at the port. Tell the checklist what you're importing and why; the export side runs on the same discipline, laid out below.
Doc Checklist
Every clearance requirement for your import — BIS, WPC, FSSAI, and more.
How the checklist is built
The universal import file
Every commercial import into India rests on the same core file — filed on ICEGATE, with supporting documents uploaded through e-Sanchit ahead of clearance. Product-specific approvals stack on top, but this base never changes; one missing piece can hold a container for weeks.
The PGA landscape — who else must say yes
Beyond customs, Participating Government Agencies regulate specific products. Which ones apply is a property of your tariff line — and it is the single most common source of stuck consignments.
| Regulator | Typical scope | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| BIS (CRS/ISI) | Electronics, IT hardware, appliances, steel, toys | Registration/licence on the model before import |
| WPC | Wireless and RF devices (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, telemetry) | Equipment Type Approval (ETA) or import licence |
| FSSAI | Food, food ingredients, supplements | Importer licence + product clearance at port |
| Plant Quarantine | Plants, seeds, grains, timber, fresh produce | Import permit + phytosanitary certificate from origin |
| Animal Quarantine | Meat, dairy, animal products, feed | Sanitary import permit + veterinary certificate |
| CDSCO | Drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, diagnostics | Registration certificate + import licence |
| Legal Metrology | Pre-packaged retail goods | LMPC registration; MRP/importer declarations on pack |
| MoEFCC/CPCB | E-waste, batteries, plastics (EPR lines) | EPR registration; some lines restricted or banned |
Approvals must exist before shipment — they cannot be obtained while goods wait at the port. FSSAI, Plant/Animal Quarantine and CDSCO clearances apply on the way out too, whenever the product itself is regulated.
Exporting? The same discipline, reversed
Export clearance runs on its own filing — the Shipping Bill, not the Bill of Entry — but the principle is identical: the paperwork exists before the goods move, not after customs asks for it.
Export policy — Free, Restricted or Prohibited — is assessed on the same per-chapter schedule as import policy. A Restricted export needs a DGFT licence before the container is booked, same as an import would.
Free, restricted, prohibited — and conditions in between
Every tariff line carries a trade policy on both sides of the border. The checklist flags the policy on your line so a licence application starts before the purchase order — not after the goods arrive.
Conditions can attach even to a 'Free' line — minimum import prices, port restrictions, quality-control orders. A Restricted line without its licence is liable to confiscation, and licences are not granted after the fact.
Frequently asked questions
§What documents are required to file a Bill of Entry?
Core set: commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, IEC, GSTIN and KYC. Conditional additions: Certificate of Origin for FTA claims, licences or PGA approvals for regulated goods, insurance for valuation, and any product certificates. Supporting documents are uploaded via e-Sanchit with the BE referencing their IRNs.
§What is e-Sanchit?
ICEGATE's electronic document upload facility. Supporting documents are uploaded as PDFs beforehand, each getting an Image Reference Number (IRN) that the Bill of Entry cites — no physical paper moves with the goods.
§How do I know if my product needs BIS registration?
BIS operates two main regimes: the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for electronics and IT products, and ISI-mark licensing for goods under Quality Control Orders (steel, cement, toys and a growing list). Coverage is defined by product category and tariff line — the checklist flags it; imports of covered goods without registration are refused clearance.
§Do wireless products always need WPC approval?
Any device with a radio transmitter — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, cellular — needs WPC Equipment Type Approval (ETA) or a licence, depending on the band. Licence-exempt bands still require ETA; it's issued per model and must exist before import.
§What does an import policy of 'Restricted' mean?
The line can only be imported against a DGFT import licence (or authorisation) obtained before shipment. Importing restricted goods without the licence exposes the consignment to confiscation — and licences are not granted retroactively.
Classification to compliance brief to ICEGATE-ready filings — every free tool above runs on the platform CHAs and importers use end to end.